Wire tightenep



May 22, 1923.

F. NEs

WIRE TIGHT ENER Filed Feb. 1922 2 Shets-Sheet 2- Patented l t le 22, 153423).

earner FRED HESS, OF LAKE ANDES, SOUTH DAKOTA.

WIRE TIGHTENEB.

Application filed February 20, 1922. Serial No. 538,010.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that FRED Nnss, citizen of the United States, esidingat Lake Andes, in the county of Charles I l [ix and State of South Dakota, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Tighteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a tool for tightening wire fences, and has for its prime object to provide a tool of this character by means of which slack wire of a line of fencing may be taken up and held taut until the operator has fastened additional pieces of wire around the post for the purpose of holding the fence wire permanently taut or has fastened the slack to the post by means of staples.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 of the drawing is a perspective view of the device constructed in accordance with my invention and showing in position against the fence-post and in engagement with the wire previous to stretching the same.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the wire drawn into a taut position ready for fastening.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a top plan view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a fencepost with the taut wire fastened into position in accordance with my invention.

In the accompanying drawings like nu morals will be used to designate like parts thruout, and 1 denotes the L-shaped lever, having a pivoted arm 52 adapted to engage the fence post on the side opposite the point where the wire is secured by the usual. staple. The arm 2 being Li -shaped in form provides a saddle 3 for engagement with the fence-post at a point below the fence wire, whereby the device is prevented from slipping. At one end of the L-shaped lever is a pivoted arm or dOg 4-, also of U-shaped form and provided with a saddle 5 for engagement with the fence-post.

Located between the il -shaped arms are a pair of chains 6 and 7 respectively, the chains being secured to the sides of the L forced to straddle the post and go around the wire to be tightened and the hooks on the ends of the chains are brought back to engage any suitable link in the chain. The operating lever is now depressed, which will draw the wire inward and take up the slack. Whenit is depressed, the arm 4 will ride down the fence post, and when the lever is released, the arm or dog will firmly brace same and hold the wire tightened, thereby permitting the operator to fasten to the wire a short piece, such as A, so that when the device is removed the fence wire will be held taut.

From the foregoing it is evident that l have provided a tool that is efficient for the purpose intended, durable, and one that can be easily and cheaply manufactured and placed on the market at a relatively low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I realize that minor changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, therefore I do not limit myself to the minor details of construction shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fence-tool of the character described, the combination with an L-shaped operating-lever, a brace arm pivoted at the bend in the L-shaped operating-lever, a doc; pivoted to the upper end of the L-shaped operating-lever and operating with the brace arm, and adjustable means carried by the L-shaped member for engagement with the fence wire.

2. In a fence-tool of the character described, the combination with an L-shaped operating-lever, a U-shaped brace pivoted at the bend in the L-shaped operating-lever, a U-shaped dog pivoted on the upper end of the L-shaped operating-lever, and wire en gaging means carried by the L-shaped operating-lever.

In testimony whereof I ail-ix my signature.

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